About Our Minister, Rev. Joseph Cherry

I am a Unitarian Universalist minister whose work is rooted in collaboration, relationship, and steady, relational leadership. I believe deeply in healthy boundaries and clear lines of authority, not as constraints, but as the conditions that allow trust and shared ministry to flourish.

At heart, I am a pastor who understands ministry as a shared endeavor, shaped over time through presence, accountability, and mutual care.

I was born and raised in Detroit in a biracial family, and those early years immersed me in communities defined by resilience, difference, and deep loyalty. That formation continues to shape my ministry today. I carry a natural attentiveness to multiple perspectives, a respect for lived experience, and a commitment to taking people as they define themselves. I bring these values into congregational life with steadiness, humility, and an abiding curiosity about the stories people carry.

When conflict arises, I begin with careful listening. From there, I work toward moral clarity and move into decisive, accountable action, always seeking to include the voices of appropriate stakeholders. In governance settings, I am known for my ability to name hard truths clearly and kindly, helping communities face reality without defensiveness and move forward without losing heart.